The top division of the United Soccer League will be named USL Premier, the league announced this week. The league is expected to launch in 2028 with a single national table and ultimately grow to 20 clubs.
This new first-division league will also lead to the introduction of a promotion/relegation model, a first for a U.S. soccer league.
The clubs that will be a part of USL Premier will be announced at a later date. The USL is currently reviewing applications from interested clubs.
The USL Championship will be the Division Two level and will also have a single national table and 20 clubs. USL League One will be the third-division and will focus on regional competitions.
Alec Papadakis, CEO of the United Soccer League, called the launch of USL Premier, “a defining piece of our long-term vision for the men’s game,” adding, “By establishing a clear structure, we’re creating a strong foundation for clubs, players, and fans, and unlocking meaningful opportunities for stakeholders and investors.”
Tony Scholes, currently the chief football officer of the Premier League, was announced last November as the president of USL’s top division. He will begin his new role this summer.
Soccer leagues in the United States have followed the traditional pro sports model common in North America of locking in teams in the same league (which brings revenue certainty) rather than following the European model of promotion/relegation that allows teams to move between divisions. That decision came during a vote of league owners last March.
This summer’s FIFA World Cup, which is predictably seeing massive ticket demand, is expected to boost the appetite for soccer in the United States and across North America.
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